Remembering a Christmas during my 30’s, I smile as I recall God’s care for me. In retrospect, I’m reminded we won’t always have a Norman Rockwell Christmas, yet, we can still worship Jesus the Christ whose birthday we are celebrating.

It was a bone-chilling, damp Christmas Eve afternoon. Closing the office door, the click sounded loud in the already empty office building. I resolutely put a smile on my face, anticipating George down in the parking garage asking me what my Christmas party plans were. Good old George was a protective Grandpa to all of us single women who worked at the Broadway Office Building in downtown Oakland, CA.

However, my smile turned to a frown as I realized what his reaction would be when he found out I was going home to an empty apartment on Christmas Eve with no date in sight, let alone a party! I had spent many lonely nights. What difference did it make, it was just one more night, I told myself.

As I entered the basement garage from the elevator, I saw George over by one of the other cars. “Merry Christmas, George,” I shouted out in my cheeriest voice. “You too, Miss Samantha,” he replied, lifting his head from the interior of the motor.

I was thankful to have avoided telling everyone of the lonely Christmas facing me. Meanwhile, a soft drizzle, making the streets slippery, required all of my concentration, as I drove the winding streets up into the hills above Oakland. Normally, I enjoyed coming home to my second floor apartment. It was in an old, cozy building with French doors and a little balcony off the dining room floating in the tops of the trees. The living room had wide windows with a small fireplace on the side wall, just perfect for the many chilly nights in the Bay Area.

I hung up my damp coat, immediately started a fire and then put on some Christmas music. Whether I was alone or not, I could still choose to celebrate Christmas! Sipping a cup of my favorite cinnamon spice tea, I flopped into the large chair by the fireplace to contemplate what I was going to do with the rest of the Christmas weekend. Self-pity was strange to me, but I decided I could indulge in it for a little, after all, what difference did it make, there was no one to make miserable except me!

After a few minutes of mindlessly watching the rain, I went to the bedroom to change out of my office clothes. It seemed stuffy in there so I opened up the window which opened out unto the treetops.

Suddenly, I caught my breath! There, only a couple of feet away, tenuously lodged in the wet, shiny bare branches of the tree was a red balloon! I could not believe its beauty! With breath stopping clarity, I saw the rain drops on the tips of the branches, the wet balloon string waving slightly in the breeze, even the balloon wobbling a little in its snare. It was there and it was for me!

I had no doubt, in that instant, God Himself, had sent me my little Christmas present. It would have seemed unimportant to anyone else, but to me, it told me of His love and care and most of all, He was aware of my loneliness and despair. It did not matter I was alone the rest of the Christmas holiday. I had my balloon out in the tree and I was loved by my Father God.

Prayer: God, as You are aware of the little sparrow when it falls to the ground, so too You are aware of every detail of our lives. Thank You for watching over us and letting us know, in so many ways, of Your love and concern. Amen.